Sunday, March 25, 2012

This weekend, Pastor Matt Fry talks about about supporting the church vision through a two-year campaign known as Imagine.

Pastor Matt starts off with the foundational scripture:

9 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him.

10 Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. 11 But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?[a]”

12 When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.”13 Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’[b] For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” [Matthew 9:9-13 (NLT)]

The Call

The first thing you need to understand is that there is "A Call." While reading Matthew 9, Pastor Matt said that he learned about the kind of church God wanted him to start. He explains that he felt comfortable where he was, leading the youth group at his previous church, but he continues to say that he really wanted to reach out and impact people where they live today. Instead of playing church games and politics, he wanted to simply focus on Jesus. He wanted to reach out and touch the hurting and hopeless.

It's not about US but OTHERS. Let's get our eyes off ourselves and on those who need Jesus.

During this time, Tax Collectors (like Matthew) were not famous people because they were often crooked and unfairly assigned burden as they saw fit.

The Pharasees were "religious" but their hearts were not in it. It's about a relationship with God not just about following the rules.

Jesus is not looking for perfect people. He's looking for you and I...those who are willing and available.

In the Bible, we see these people of God and think they were flawless, but we learn that everyone sinned and imperfect.

Pastor Matt talks about a guy named Johnny. Johnny grew up in a broken home in North Carolina and was a high school dropout. This is a guy who was heading down the wrong road (i.e. drugs, alcohol, fighting, etc). At 23, he returned to got his GED and found Jesus. Today, Johnny Hunt is a very successful pastor in Atlanta.

Whenever you say, "Yes" to God, something good is going to happen.

The Need

We need to see the need like Jesus does. We need to get our eyes off ourselves and on the needy.

35 Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. [Matthew 9:35-36 (NLT)]

Compassion is to be moved in your inner parts. When Jesus saw and heard the crowd's pain, he felt their needs. Pastor Fry believes that Jesus' heart broke for those people.

When was the last time you hurt for others? We have the privilege of being the hands and feet of Jesus.

Matt talks about one of his first messages at C3 Church, he says that he saw a vision of people coming into a "cafetorium" that needed hope. In the weeks that followed, people flooded that elementary school. Why? Because they needed hope.

The Vision

After Jesus saw the crowd approaching, he spoke to his disciples. He said that the need is great but the workers are few.

There are thousands that come to C3 Church during a weekend. God is calling each of us to reach out help others. It's not just a pastor's responsibility to reach people, we too need to get involved.

There is power in agreement. If God unites people, there is power in that.

19 “I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. 20 For where two or three gather together as my followers,[a] I am there among them.” [Matthew 18:19-20 (NLT)]

If we can get everyone to commit to a common vision, we can do some amazing things. A good place to start at C3 Church is focused on Imagine. Let's Imagine together!

Prayer

If you need hope or help. God wants you to know that he loves you. Jesus died and rose from the grave. If you would like to know if Jesus is your savior then pray this prayer.

Dear God, I realize I've sinned and I need you. Thank you for dying on the cross and rising from the grave. Come in to my heart and save me. Thank you for giving me eternal and abundant life. Help me to live for you, for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name. Amen.

To share your story, want more information about next steps, or just in need of prayer, please contact Pastor Matt Fry.